Marion County, Missouri Genealogy Trails

A Post Office in a Bee-gum

The first postmaster of Palmyra, Major Obadiah Dickeron. Carried the mail around in his hat, which was of the tall "bee-gum" pattern.

When people questioned this disposition of the mail, the major would tell them, "If I meet a man who has a letter belonging to him. I can give it to him. I meet more men when I travel about than come to the office."

As the major was a great hunter and was always "among those present" at almost any kind of a gathering of settlers, his argument for the hat post office could not be well gainsaid.

One man who came to Palmyra to get any mail there might be for his neighbors and himself in a remote settlement followed the major over to North river. The major found several letters addressed to people the man represented. Then taking out two more letters he handed them to this man saying: "Take these along with you and see if they belong to any one out in your settlement. They have been here two weeks and no one has called for them yet. I don't know any such men, and I don't want to be bothered with them any longer." The major's methods did not detract from his personal popularity. The county elected him to the legislature.

Centennial History of Missouri, "Pioneer Ways" 1921
Transcribed and Contributed by: Frances Cooley